I recently designed an all foam 3D plane where I had to develope some methods to make a strong, stiff plane that would be easy to build. The Panic was the result. The plane is quite tough as was demonstrated when I cartwheeled it at hight speed across my yard. I got to thinking that this building technique would be great for a first trainer. My younger son wanted something to learn to fly on so I designed him an airplane around these techniques. This is the result.

I'm thinking of calling it the Magpie in honor of my daughter Maggie. It has a 46" wingspan, 414 sq in wing area, weighs 12 ounces without a battery, and is designed to fly with a GWS EPS350 motor. It uses two servos for rudder and elevator. I might add a second wing for it later that will have ailerons. I was flying the final prototype in 15+ mph winds and it was almost flying hands off. It it almost painfully stable in that you can put the transmitter down and go in for dinner when you point it into the wind. Kids, don't try this at home.

One of the design goals was to use equipment that would progress into hotter planes like the SmoothE. Target price is around $40 and I hope to release them within two weeks.

I'm not a fan of EPP so I designed this plane around EPS. It is cheaper, lighter, easier to shape and glue, and holds its shape better than EPP. With proper reinforcement, EPS can have the strength of EPP. This is what I found in the 3D market - the EPP planes could take a crash but flexed way more than I was happy with.

I think that it is because the plane doesn't flex is why it handles the wind so well. The controls are responsive but not too sensitive. It is, after all, a trainer.

I'll try to get some videos of it soon. I'd like to get some crash footage but it is pretty hard to crash. Maybe I should have my son try some landing in this wind.

It comes with landing gear. The 12 ounces is with gear. You assemble it with 5 minute epoxy. You need to cover the wing and fuselage with wing tape after the foam has been lightly sprayed with spray adhesive. The motor mount, landing gear mount, and control horns, etc are laser cut ply. The tail is laser cut Depron.

Wing loading is about 5.5 ounces per square foot. The airfoil is the S3021. This airfoil is what I used on the SmoothE and has also been used on some glider wings.

We very definitely have some balsa kits in the works. Two that are high on the list are a Speed 400 pylon plane and a, dare I say it, biplane. Both will bring some new construction ideas to the market.

We very definitely have some balsa kits in the works. Two that are high on the list are a Speed 400 pylon plane and a, dare I say it, biplane. Both will bring some new construction ideas to the market.